A Dickson City man who allegedly stole $10,000 from his aunt by cashing checks he took while working on her Scott Twp. home is now accused of stealing a $3,600 diamond ring while doing work for another woman.

Greenfield Twp. police charged Brian Davitt, 35, of 1114 Main St., with receiving stolen property and disorderly conduct when he appeared at the Lackawanna County Courthouse on Tuesday for his preliminary hearing on the Scott Twp. charges.

Mr. Davitt waived his preliminary hearings in both cases and was returned to the county prison in lieu of $30,000 bail.

According to the arrest affidavit filed by Police Chief Paul Fortuner, a Greenfield Twp. woman discovered the diamond ring missing from a jewelry box after she hired Mr. Davitt to paint the bathroom of her Healey Hill Road home in early May.

The woman's cousin, who had recommended Mr. Davitt for the work, later told her Mr. Davitt admitted taking the ring, police said. When police interviewed the cousin, she confirmed Mr. Davitt told her he had taken the ring and pawned it for cash.

He was accused of stealing $10,000 by fraudulently cashing 22 checks he took from his aunt while helping remodel her home in March and April. She learned about the theft in early July when her bank notified her of $650 in overdraft charges.

Mr. Davitt surrendered and was arrested on the charges last week, Scott Twp. Police Chief James Romano said.

Contact the writer: dsingleton@timesshamrock.com

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